Donna Summer believed 9/11 caused fatal cancer

Singer Donna Summer, who died at 63, believed terrorist attacks contributed to her lung cancer.

According to reports the star, who died on Thursday, had complained that toxic dust containing lead, asbestos and Mercury was the reason for her ill health.

Donna – who passed away in Florida – was in a nearby apartment building in New York City on the day of the attacks in 2001.

According to The Sun, the devout Christian had previous said: “I was really freaked out by the horrific experiences of that day.

“I couldn’t go out, I didn’t want to talk to anybody. I had to keep the blinds down and stay in my bedroom. I went to church and light came back into my soul. That heaviness was gone.”

Apparently the ‘I Feel Love’ singer had a premonition about the tragic events.

She recalled in 2008: “My husband and I were walking down the street. I had this feeling. I said, ‘Honey, I feel like terrorism, high on top of the buildings.’

“I knew something was going to happen. When it did, I flipped out.”

It is believed around 1000 people exposed to the dust have died — 350 of them from cancer.

Dr John Howard, the 9/11 Federal Health Director, said: “I think it is plausible that many people will die of the many conditions we’ve seen due to their exposure.”

The disco queen’s pulsing anthems such as Love to Love You Baby became the soundtrack for a glittery age of sex, drugs, dance and flashy clothes.

Her family released a statement saying Summer died on Thursday morning and they “are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy”.

She had been living in Englewood, Florida, with her husband Bruce Sudano.

“Words truly can’t express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time,” the statement said.

Summer came to prominence just as disco was burgeoning, and came to define the era with a string of No.1 hits and her luxurious hair and glossy, open lips.

Disco became as much defined by her sultry, sexual vocals – her bedroom moans and sighs – as the relentless, pulsing rhythms of the music itself.

Elton John said in a statement that Summer was more than the Queen of Disco.

“Her records sound as good today as they ever did. That she has never been inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame is a total disgrace, especially when I see the second-rate talent that has been inducted,” he said. “She is a great friend to me and to the Elton John AIDS Foundation and I will miss her greatly.”

Love to Love You Baby, with its erotic moans, was Summer’s first hit and one of the most scandalous songs of the polyester-and-platform-heel era. The song was later sampled by LL Cool J, Timbaland and Beyonce, who interpolated the hit for her jam Naughty Girl.

Unlike some other stars of disco who faded as the music became less popular, Summer was able to grow beyond it and later segued to a pop-rock sound. She had one of her biggest hits in the 1980s with She Works Hard for the Money, which became another anthem, this time for women’s rights.

Soon after, Summer became a born-again Christian and faced controversy when she was accused of making anti-gay comments in relation to the AIDS epidemic. Summer denied making the comments, but was the target of a boycott.

Summer, real name LaDonna Adrian Gaines, was born in 1948 in Boston. She was raised on gospel music and became the soloist in her church choir by age 10.

Love to Love You Baby, released in 1975, was her US chart debut and the first of 19 No.1 dance hits between 1975 and 2008 – second only to Madonna.

Singer Dionne Warwick said in a statement that she was sad to lose a great performer and “dear friend”.

“My heart goes out to her husband and her children,” Warwick said. “Prayers will be said to keep them strong.”

Musician Nile Rodgers tweeted: “For the last half hour or so I’ve been lying in my bed crying and stunned. Donna Summer RIP.”

Summer released her last album, Crayons, in 2008. It was her first full studio album in 17 years. She also performed on American Idol that year with its top female contestants.

In another sign of her continued relevance, the musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert features two versions of Summer songs with Hot Stuff and MacArthur Park.

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